seahorse tutorial

Copyright 2009 Carmen Barrera Arte y Creaciones

By Carmen Barrera

Please do not distribute, lend or copy this Tutorial and dont mass produce it. Please always give credit to the designer. Copyright 2009 Carmen Barrera Arte y Creaciones This lesson will show you step by step how to make a pair of seahorse earrings and a pedant, using the spike technique (wrapping a wire with only a pair of pliers). First you will learn to make an spike, necessary to develop the technique to make the sea horse.

Materials: -2 m or 2.2 yards of 21 gauge half hard round wire. -4 m or 2.2 yards of 23 gauge half hard round wire. -4 m or 2.2 yards of 25 gauge half hard round wire. The wire can be bronze, copper, dead soft silver, or craft wire. -14 Swarovski, bicone 3mm beads. -Two Clear AB bicone 3mm beads. -15 cm or 6 of 28 gauge soft dead wire. -2 Swarovski bicone 4mm beads.

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Tool

-Round nose pliers -Chain or flat nose pliers. -Flush cutter.

This Tutorial has been divided into four sections Section I.-Defining terms. Section II. - Learning the technique Section III.-Making projects. Section IV. Appendix.


Section I DEFINING TERMS. First, let's define some terms we will be using throughout this Tutorial.

1.-Spike is a series upstream and downstream loops, forming an inverted "V" in most cases. A "spike" can be of different levels. Here you can see a spike of four levels.

2.-Levels: The level is given by the number of upstream loops.

The first level is always just one or two loops. A spike of 2 levels is not an inverted "V". As you see in the picture, the spikes of levels 3, 4 and 5 form an inverted "V".

3.-Composition A composition is comprised by two or more spikes of different levels, depending on the project you want to make.

This is the composition of the seahorse.


Section II LEARNING THE TECHNIQUE To learn how to make this technique, I will develop a four levels spike, so you can understand it. I will number the tips of the round nose pliers. The explanation below shows how the wire is wrapped in the round nose pliers, but more experienced wireworkers can achieve to do the loops with only the movement of their hand and pliers. Making a Spike

Make the first level Step 1. - Make two loops with the round nose pliers (this is the first level)

Make the second level

Step 2. - Place the tip #1 of the pliers in the loop of the first level. The tip #2 of the pliers is at the top of the first loop. Step 3. - Pull the wire up over the tip #2 of the pliers.


Step 4. - Place the tip #1 of the pliers in the loop of the second level. The tip #2 is at the top of the second loop.

Make the third level Step 5. - Wrap the wire around the tip # 1 forming the loop of the second level. Step 6. - As in step # 3; pull the wire up over the tip #2 of the pliers. Step 7. - Place the tip #1 of the pliers in the third loop. The tip #2 of the pliers is at the top of the third loop.


Step 8.- Wrap the wire around the tip #1 of the pliers, forming the loop of the third level. Note: Steps 6, 7, and 8 make a complete loop.

Make the fourth level Step 9.-As in step #3, pull the wire up over the tip #2 of the round nose pliers. To complete a four-level spike, we will start descending in the next step.

Start descending To make the explanation easier I have numbered the levels in a blue colour

Make the third level Step 10. - Bring the wire up over the tip # 1 of the pliers. For this step dont change the place of the tips, hold the same place as in Step 9. Step 11. - Place the tip #2 of the round nose pliers in the third loop, and the tip #2 of the pliers at the top of the loop number 2.


Step 12. - Wrap the wire around the tip #2 of the pliers to form the third down loop.

Make the second level

Step 13. - Bring the weaving wire up over the tip #1 of the pliers.

Step 14. - Place the tip # 2 of the round nose pliers in the second loop, and the tip #1 of the round nose pliers, at the height of loop number 1.

Step15. - Wrap the wire around the tip #2 of the pliers, to form the second-down loop. Note: Steps 12, 13, 14 and 15 make a complete loop.


Make the first level Step 16. - Bring the wire up over the tip #1 of the pliers.

Step17. - Place the tip #2 of the pliers in the first loop, and the tip#1 at the bottom.

Step 18.-Wrap the wire around the tip #2 of the pliers to make another first level. Step 19.-Change the position of the tip #1. Tip#1 and tip #2 are in the same level but tip 2 is in the first loop and the tip #1 is out.


Step 20. - Wrap the wire around the tip #2 of pliers to make the second loop of the first level.

This is a four levels spike, and we are ready to begin another one of the same or different level. Note that all the first levels consists of two-loops

Step 21.-If you did not straighten it out, you can straighten it with a flat nose pliers.


Section III. - Making the projects. Making the tail

Step 1. - With the tip of the round nose pliers and the 21 gauge wire, start making a coil of 1.5 cm (0.6). Once it is finished, dont cut it off, the wire left is needed to continue forming the seahorse.

Making the body

Making a three levels spike Step 2.-Pull the wire up over the upper tip of the round nose pliers.

Step 3. - Change the lower tip and wrap the wire around the lower tip forming the loop of the second level.


From this step, you must review the procedure of section II Step 4. - Wrap the wire around the upper tip of the round nose pliers. Repeat steps 10 and 11of: Making a spike

Step 5.-Wrap the wire around the upper tip of the round nose pliers to form the second down loop. Step 6.-Repeat steps 16 through 20 of: Making a spiketo complete the three levels spike.

Step 7.-Repeat step 6 until you have five "spikes" of 3 levels each.


Step 8.-Make a Spike of 4 levels as the procedure: Making a spike. Step 9. - Make a spike of 5 levels. Use the procedure of: Making a spike: Repeat steps 1 through 8, then make the fourth loop as shown in steps 6, 7 and 8 of the first part of this tutorial.

Finally repeat steps 9 through 20. Remember: You must repeat steps 16, 17 y 18 one time more to make an extra loop to complete a spike of 5 levels.

Step 10. - Make a spike of 4 levels as you did above. Step 11. - Make a Spike of 3 levels as you did above. Step 12. - Make a Spike of 6 levels. Use the procedure of: Making a spike: Repeat steps 1 through 8, then make the fourth and fifth loops as shown in steps 7 and 8. Finally repeat steps 9 through 20.


Remember: You must repeat steps 16, 17 y 18 two times more to make two extra loop to complete a spike of 6 levels.

Step 13. - Repeat step 12 until you have five "spikes" of 6 levels each.

Starting the head Step 14. - Take the wire up to the second level and make a loop (see red arrow). Making the coronet Step 15. - Take the wire up to the height of the fifth level (see red arrow), making a large open loop.

Step 16. - Take the wire down to the second level and make a closed loop (see red arrow).


Step 17. - Take the wire up to the height of the sixth level (see red arrow), making another open large loop.

Step 18. - Take the wire down to the second level and make a closed loop (see red arrow). Step 19. - Take the wire up to the height of the fifth level (see red arrow), making a large open loop.

Finishing the head. Step 20. - Take the wire down to the second level and make a loop (see red arrow).


Step 21. - Take the wire down to the first level and make two loops (see red arrow). Step 22. - Repeat steps 1 through 22 to make the other body of the seahorse. If you want to make earrings, repeat steps 1 through 22 to make the other seahorses body.

Making the head. You need 15 cms. or 6

Step 23. - Using round nose pliers grasp about 5 cm or 2 from one end of the wire and make a loop.

Step 24. - Continue wrapping the right side of the wire as shown in the picture.


Step 25.-Bend slightly the wire and measure 0.5 cm or 0.2from the loop and mark with permanent marker.

Make the snout Step 26.-Bend the wire upwards at the mark and measure 0.5 cm or 0.2" from the bend again.

Step 27. - Using the round nose pliers bend the wire in the mark making an open loop. Measure from the last bend 0.7cm or (0.3) and bend at a 90 grades angle. Then measure 0.9cm (0.38) from the bend and mark with

permanent marker.

Make the cheek. Step 28. - Using the fattest part of the round nose pliers, bend the wire. The pliers should be touching the bend that you made in step 27.


Step 29.-Using a flat nose pliers, bend at the mark made in step 27. Measure 0.4 cm or 0.16 from the eye and mark with permanent marker.

Finish the head Step 30. - Using flat nose pliers bend slightly at the mark made in step 29.

Step 31.-Pass the largest wire through the holes formed by all first level loops. Cut the shortest wire at about 1 or

1.5 cm (0.4 to 0.59) from the cheek of the seahorse.

Step 32. - Insert the shortest wire through the loops of the first level of the spike of 6 levels (the last one made), close to the head, as shown in the picture.


Step 33.-Bend the wire to the back and make a little loop.

Step 34.-Press the loop with a chain or flat nose pliers.

Step 35.-Slightly bends the outside loops of the coronet made in steps 16 and 19.


Step 36.-Shape the seahorse into an S pattern. Cut the wire of the tail at 1.5 to 2 cm (0.6 to 0.8) from the coil and make a spiral.

Making a pedant To make the pedant you need: - 2 m or 2.2 yards of 21g wire. -13 Aqua or hyacinth 3 mm bicone beads. -Two Clear AB bicone 3mm beads.

Step 37. - -To add beads see at the appendix: How to add beads. To add the bail use the free tutorial: Rabbit Ear Pedant Bail http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorial/rabbit-ear-pedant-bail The measurement of this pedant without the bail is 5 cm or 1.97.


Making Earrings

To make this pair of earrings you need 2 m or 2.2 yards of 25 gauge half hard wire. -16 2.5 mm sterling silver beads. -A pair of sterling silver post ear. -2 little jump rings. Step 38.-To make a pair of earrings attach the seahorse to a post ear wire with a little jump ring. The measurement of this earring

without the ear wire is 4.5 cm or 1.77. Variation (beaded tail instead of coiled tail)

To make this pair of earrings you need -2 m or 2.2 yards of 23 gauge half hard round wire. -14 peridot 3mm bicone beads. - 2 peridot 4mm bicone beads. -A pair of earring hooks.


Step 39. - Start at step 2 and go through to step 23. Step 40.-Repeat 24 through 35 and Shape the seahorse, into an S pattern. Cut the tail 4cm away (1.57) from the first 3 levels spike.

Step 41.-String four 3mm beads on the tail.

Step 42.-Make a spiral.


Step 43. - Add the beads to the body and a 3mm bead in the eye. See appendix: How to add beads.

Step 44.-To make a pair of earrings make a connector with a 4mm bead and attach the seahorse and the ear wire. The measurement of this earring without the ear wire is 4.8 cm or 1.89.


Appendix. -How to add beads. Use 20 cm or 8 of 28 gauge dead soft round wire.

Step 1.-Wrap a wire around the core wire three times,

Step 2.-String a 3mm bead and insert the wire in the next hole formed by the spike. The red dots and the arrow in picture show how the wire goes.

Step 3. - Insert the wire in the previous hole (see red dots and arrows).Make sure that the wire is always ahead of the bead.


Step 4. - String another 3mm bead and insert the wire in the next hole formed by the spike. The red dots and the arrow in picture show how the wire goes.

Step 5. - Repeat steps 1 through 4, to finish placing the beads on the body.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial. I await your comments, question and review to improve it if necessary. Only practice makes advanced. Thank my sister Maggie for their continuous support. Special thanks to Jane Doe S., who helped with the editing of this tutorial. Any question or help please contact me:


[email protected] Please do not distribute, lend or copy this Tutorial and dont mass produce it. Please always give credit to the teacher.

seahorse tutorial

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